BYE, MISS
Beloved principal farewelled Omokoroa Point School pays tribute to a dedicated principal, teacher and friend in the community
‘You are the heart of OPS Vicki Knell” were the words on a large canvas given to farewell Omokoroa Point School’s principal after more than 22 years.
The much-loved principal had more than one farewell during her final week including a whole-school assembly, where there were lots of tears shed.
Vicki says she will miss the children most of all.
“This week I have been showered with love — lots of hugs and lots of tears. It has been humbling.
“We grow awesome children at Omokoroa — curious, caring and collaborative learners — I will miss them all very much.”
Vicki says she will also miss an outstanding teaching team and incredible support staff team at Omokoroa Point School.
Coming from Matua to take on the role as teaching principal in 1998, and moving to the peninsula soon after, Vicki says Omokoroa has been an incredible part of her life for the last 221⁄2 years.
“I am very proud of my small contribution to the ‘Best little school in the Bay’ and also to the community of Omokoroa.
“It is time to hand the mantle to our next OPS principal Sandra Portegys, and I can not think of anyone more suited to the job.”
Sandra was the deputy principal at Maungatapu Primary School.
Vicki Knell’s key attributes are her dedication to teaching, her compassion and determination to encourage everyone to achieve and be the best they can, says O¯ mokoroa Point School associate principal Dallas Townsend.
Dallas has been a teacher at OPS for 17 years and says Vicki has always loved working with pupils of all ages.
“As a principal she has been an excellent leader, who has inspired other staff members to grow with their confidence and take on leadership roles.
“I will miss Vicki’s strength, her determination to get things done and always being involved in every aspect of school life, whether it’s fundraising, sports events, kapahaka groups, school productions, school camps, PTA meetings, gardening, to mention just a few.”
When informing staff of her resignation Vicki says there were tears and a little shock, but mostly people had said “Good on you”.
“They said they were sad for the school, but happy for me.”
School office administrator Heather Allport has worked with Vicki for a decade.
“This has been the hardest farewell I’ve experienced,” she says.
“It has been an absolute pleasure working alongside Vicki and being part of OPS. She has poured her heart and soul into her job as principal for the past seven years and deputy principal previous to that.
“I’ve worked in several other locations and schools, but this school stands out for me.”
Saying goodbye was also tough for Cushla Stephens who has been at the school for 21 years, working in administration, library and IT: “Vicki is a passionate, creative, caring, hardworking teacher and principal.”
One fond memory Cushla says springs to mind is of Vicki walking into her classroom when the children were making chocolates.
“The classroom had been turned into a chocolate-making factory. Children were in groups and each had a role, eg engineer, marketing. They had to create a new flavour of chocolate and market it. The kids loved it.”
Dallas, too, remembers Vicki’s involvement and hands-on approach when she took part in every camp
. . . . “often attending four camps every year. Her expertise and knowledge of the outdoors was invaluable and every pupil ‘loved having adventures with Mrs Knell’,” she says.
Vicki came to O¯ mokoroa Point School in 1998 as teaching deputy principal, teaching Year 5 and 6. She continued her way up the year class levels moving to the role of principal in 2013 — a role she has had for seven years.
There have been many highlights for Vicki. Her main one had been the students.
“I’ve taught some amazing students who have gone on to do some pretty amazing things with their lives.”
Teaching Year 7 and 8s was also a highlight, as well as the school being involved in community initiatives such as the skatepath and the new sports pavilion at Western Ave.
“Another highlight has been working with some pretty amazing teachers, teacher aides and board of trustee members.”
Vicki has also enjoyed working alongside the other schools in their area, and says the schools are close.
She has seen many changes in 22 years: “The obvious change has been the size of the school, as well as just the growth of O¯ mokoroa itself.”
When Vicki arrived, OPS had a roll of 120 students, rising to 135 by the end of that year. Every year since there has been a steady rise. Last year the roll was 272 and climbed to 309 by the end of the year. This year the roll started at 280 and is already over 300.
There had also been a growth in investment from the Ministry of Education into the school’s buildings, and investment growth from the local council and the community, which was into the hundreds of thousands for projects such as resurfacing the school’s courts, building the covered outdoor theatre structure, and relining the pool. Perhaps the highlight for Vicki was the new senior teaching block.
She says there had also been incredible support from PTAs over the years.
Vicki leaves the “Best little school in the Bay” in good stead and says the view from the principal’s office is one of the best in NZ.
“I will miss those amazing sunsets over the Kaimai ranges.”
She plans to take a complete break before having some adventures . . . tramping, skiing and boating.
New principal Sandra Portegys starts at the beginning of Term 3.